Monday, May 9, 2011

Series Preview: Phillies at Marlins, 5/9-5/11

The last time Phillies ace Roy Halladay and Marlins ace Josh Johnson faced each other in Florida, was last May. The end result was a legendary outing, as Halladay tossed a perfect game. Those same hurlers will square off again in game 2 of a 3-game series this week at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL.

Before then, the Phillies (22-11) will send Joe Blanton to the mound, fresh off a disable list stint for an elbow impingement, in the series opener. The Marlins (20-13) will counter with right-hander Javier Vazquez.

The Phils and Marlins split two games when the two teams first faced off in April at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and more information on this series.

Monday, 7:10PM. Joe Blanton (0-1, 5.92 ERA) vs. Javier Vazquez (2-2, 6.39 ERA). Vazquez allowed 3 earned runs in 5 innings while not earning a decision in his previous start against the Phillies this season. In 2 home starts this season, Vazquez is 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA. In 29 career starts against the Phils, Vazquez has a 12-8 record with a 4.30 ERA. Raul Ibanez is 10-for-28 (.357 avg) with 4 homers and 8 RBI in his career against Vazquez. In 2 starts last season against the Marlins, Blanton posted a 1-0 record with a 2.19 ERA. In 3 career starts at Sun Life Stadium, Blanton is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA.

Tuesday, 7:10PM. Roy Halladay (5-1, 2.19 ERA) vs. Josh Johnson (3-1, 1.68 ERA). In 7 career starts against the Marlins, Halladay is 4-2 with a 2.30 ERA. In 2 road starts this season, Halladay is 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA and opponents are batting .177 against him. Omar Infante is 1-for-12 (.083 avg) in his career against Halladay. In 13 career games against the Phillies, Johnson has a 5-3 record with a 3.34 ERA. Ryan Howard is 9-for-29 (.310 avg) with 2 doubles and 2 homeruns in his career against Johnson. In 4 home starts this season, Johnson is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA.

Wednesday, 7:10PM. Cliff Lee (2-3, 3.69 ERA) vs. Ricky Nolansco (3-0, ). In 2 career starts against Florida, Lee is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA. In 3 road starts this season, Lee has a 1-2 record with a 4.66 ERA. In 4 home starts this season, Nolasco is 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA. Carlos Ruiz is 1-for-11 (.091 avg) in his career against Nolasco.

In 43 games at Sun Life Stadium, Placido Polanco is a .262 hitter. Polanco's .365 batting average prior to action on Sunday was 4th best in the National League.

Ryan Howard has a .307 average in 97 career games against the Marlins with 29 homeruns and a 1.056 OPS.

Headed into action on Sunday, Shane Victorino has a .227 batting average in 22 night games.

Dominican Republic native Leo Nunez has a 2.95 ERA in 18 career games against the Phillies with 8 saves and 1 blown save. Polanco is 3-for-15 (.200 avg) against Nunez.

In 13 career games against the Phillies, Mike Stanton is a .296 hitter with 3 doubles and 4 homeruns.